Flashback...
It was only a few weeks before Black had made that decision to leave Belle with their foal that day, as the stallion wanted to get his love something truly special. Something to encompass the love they had for each other, and how great she had made his life.
So he made a small trip to the town's blacksmith one morning, still donning a hat that he used to hide his face, though nowadays, he just simply wore it. He felt no need to hide who he was anymore. And he was okay with that.
"Howdy, pardner." The blacksmith, a midnight blue Earth Pony stallion with brown eyes, a gray mane and an anvil Cutie Mark, greeted him.
"Morning." Black nodded.
"Say, aren't you Miss Belle's new beau?" The blacksmith asked.
"Got it in one." Black nodded.
"I've seen ya around town." The blacksmith noted. "I'm glad to see Miss Belle's finally found somepony."
"Oh, I'm pretty glad myself." Black grinned. "In fact, she's the reason I'm here. I need you to make a little something for me..."
"You name it, bud." The blacksmith grinned. "And on account of you bein' with Miss Belle, I'll even do it on the house."
"You don't have to." Black shook his head. "I've got a little cash squirreled away-"
"Your money ain't no good here." The blacksmith insisted. "Besides, if this is for Belle, I'm happy to do it for free."
"Oh, well... thanks." Black smiled. "Now, here's what I'm thinking..."
At the end of the day, Belle returned home from teaching.
"Welcome home, pretty lady." Black grinned, embracing her.
"Hi, Black." Belle kissed him on the cheek. "...Hmm, what's up with you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Black said innocently.
"I know that look on your face." Belle smirked. "that's the look you have whenever you're about to surprise someone with some surprise, heartfelt gift."
"Guilty." Black chuckled.
"So... let's see it." Belle urged.
"It's right... here." Black held up a silver, heart-shaped locket. not unlike the one his brother White wore.
"Oh, Black..." Belle gasped. "It's beautiful."
Black had been angling for a special, one-of-a-kind gift, to prove just how much Belle meant to him. He wasn't exactly sure what at first what to do... then one memory came to mind...
It was back when he and his brother first met their unit in Saddle Arabia. There, they met this headstrong markspony, Avalanche, a infantry mare named Nora, an odd albino pony medic named Nevec, and a young upstart rookie, aptly named Rookie Blue. When he first met Rookie, Rookie had the same necklace, claiming that he hoped to one day settle down and have a family and put a picture of him with his mare in the locket.
...However, that day never came. A incident in a town of Sandale, caused by Black's own doing, made sure of that.
But with that incident, White ended up taking possession of the locket... and of all the things Black could recall back then in his fight with White (aside from getting shot in the eye) was he was wearing that same locket.
Though he had no intention of telling Belle about this... at least, not yet, he longed for something that would keep him connected to his brother, knowing that he would probably never see him again. And it was for the best. But at least, he can still have a part of his brother be with the mare he hoped to spend the rest of his life with.
"Glad you like it, babe." Black grinned.
"Oh, it opens!" Belle opened it up.
"Yeah." Black nodded. "Haven't quite figured out what to put in it yet, though..."
"Well, I just happened to have a camera." Belle smiled. "That nice Mr. Candid from around the corner lent it to me for one of my lessons. We could take a picture of us, and put it inside."
"Great thinking." Black smirked. "Beautiful and smart. You're the whole package."
"And don't you forget it." Belle joked, pulling out the camera. "Now, let me just set the timer..."
After setting the camera, Belle set it on the mantelpiece.
"Get in close now." Black chuckled, nuzzling against Belle.
"With pleasure." Belle grinned.
The camera took their picture, and the photo emerged.
"And now the finishing touch." Black picked up some scissors, cut the picture so only he and Belle were left, and placed it in the locket. "There. Perfect."
"It certainly is." Belle sighed. "Put it on me?"
"You got it." Black placed the locket around her neck. "Now, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always have this to remind you of me."
"I really love it, Black." Belle smiled. "But we'll never be too far away from each other, right?"
"Right." Black nodded. "As if anything or anypony could ever tear me away from you."
"I know." Belle grinned. "It's just nice to hear you say it out loud..."
The two embraced and kissed each other deeply.
'Another score for me.' Black thought. 'I'm really getting good at this romance stuff...'
The present...
Back at the party, Shine was staying by the stairs, steadfastly keeping as far away from Celestia as possible. He knew she would have more questions regarding Shade's outburst, and he wasn't sure how to answer them.
'How can I explain it to her without telling the truth?' He thought. 'What could possible explain Shade getting so angry about Black, if Black was anything but his father? Maybe I could say family is really important to him, or that he just doesn't like cover-ups? No, that's no good...'
Shine was drawing a blank.
'I've really backed myself into a corner here...' He thought, desperation setting in. 'I need to put a lid on this first. Though it might help if I could just talk to Shade. I'd need to know where he is, first...'
Shine made his way over to Caboose.
"I need you to find Shade." He declared. "I want to make sure he's alright."
"Do not worry, Shiny!" Caboose smiled, as he then lowered his snout to the ground. "I'll sniff him out!"
"Um, Caboose, this is really not the time for your shenan-" Shine groaned.
"Cool it, Shine, this will only be a moment." Caboose cut him off, as he began sniffing through the ballroom. "I need a scrap of his clothes or a lock of his mane..."
Suddenly, he bumped into familiar red hooves.
"Or hoof clippings. Hoof clippings are good." Caboose shrugged.
Caboose glanced up... and found the hooves belonged to Shade.
"Oh, found him, Shine!" Caboose smiled.
"Correction! I found him!"
Caboose glanced again... and realized that Call Duty was right beside him... and Shade himself was in hoofcuffs.
"What the..." Caboose gasped.
Fletcher, too, took notice of that sight.
"Oh no..." He gulped, mortified.
"Duty?" Elite frowned, as he walked over. "What is this?"
Call's arrival had drawn the attention of others. Several of the guests approached, as did Celestia. But none were more shocked than Shine.
"What going on?" Shine frowned. "Shade?"
Shade looked away, his face a portrait of misery.
"Sergeant Duty, what is the meaning of this?" Celestia frowned, approaching them.
"Your majesty... allow me to introduce you to..." Call then shoved Shade forward, "The Western Shade... the infamous thief that been making off with our gold!"
The gathered ponies were shocked.
"Did he just say 'the Western Shade'?" Jet Set frowned.
"As in that contemptible rogue who's stealing from ponies over in the deserts"? Upper Crust added.
"This can't be right..." Elite shook his head.
"Shade!" Shine rushed forward... only to stopped by two guards. "There must be a mistake! Shade would never-"
"Oh, this is no mistake, 'Prince'." Call sneered. "I found your 'cousin' breaking into the vault. He was about ready to take as much of the royals' valuables, right from under your snouts."
"Wha..." Shine glanced at Shade in disbelief, trying his hardest to not believe Call's words. "No..."
"The Western Shade?" Celestia gaped in shock, as she glared at Shine. "Your cousin is the 'Western Shade'?! And you brought him here?!"
"I don't understand..." Shine ignored Celestia's glare, as he stared at Shade. "This... was why you decided to come back with me?"
Shade hung his head in defeat.
"You think that's a bombshell?" Call smiked, "Get a load of this..." He pulled up a silver locket. "I found this not far from the crime scene..."
Shine's blood ran cold. And Shade immediately noticed his locket for all to see.
"HEY! THAT'S MINE!" Shade roared, as he lunged for the locket, only for Call to sucker punch him, "Gah..."
"Consider that payback, you little runt." Call snarled, as he then turned to Celestia, "I looked at the contents of this locket... and I found something interesting. As it turns out... this little thief is none other than the son of the infamous demon we all know as... Black Knight Paladin."
The whole ballroom froze at that announcement. Celestia was among them, but she managed to retain her poise.
"That is quite a serious allegation." She remarked. "How can you be certain?"
"Only this." Call held up Shade's locket, opening it to reveal the picture inside, pointing to Black. "See this? This is obviously Black Knight. Note the eyepatch and his smug face. Now look at Shade here... see the resemblance?"
Celestia's eyes widened, as well as many others.
'How could I have not seen it before?' She asked herself. 'Shade really is Black's son.'
The crowd was in an uproar.
"Unbelievable!" Golden Gavel frowned.
"How vile!" Silver Frames spat.
"That fiend had a child?" Black Marble cringed.
"And he's been playing us all for fools!" Swan Song declared.
"I knew he punched like that demon!" Jet Set snarled, still tending to his wounded face.
"That's enough!" Shine said angrily. "You can't judge a pony by his family!"
"Oh ho, funny you should defend him, Prince Shine." Call sneered. "Almost as if you knew Shade was both a thief and the son of a psychopath this whole time!"
"Wait... Shine, did you know about this?" Celestia gaped.
"...Yes." Shine frowned. "I knew he was Black's son, and the Western Shade. I found out when I first found him..."
"You knew all along..." Celestia grit her teeth in anger. "And you didn't think to tell me?! Not even when you brought him into our home?!"
"But it's not what you think!" Shine insisted. "I thought I could change him... I had to try." He then glanced at Shade, with the utmost disappointment. "I didn't actually think he would do this... I thought he was better than that..."
Shade couldn't bring himself to look at Shine.
"Well, what more could you expect from the son of Black Knight?" Call smirked with a sense of superiority. "You tried so hard to help a lost cause, that you went and brought the Captain and Lieutenant into your little scheme!"
The Guards were just as distraught by the news.
"No way..." Dull shook his head. "It can't be..."
"He seemed like such a decent guy..." Another Guard frowned.
"He was lying to us all along?" A third Guard snarled.
"We were suckered by a master criminal." A fourth Guard said sadly.
"It's not true." Dull insisted. "I know Shade. He's no criminal..."
"Oh, shut up, you dumb rookie." Call growled. "You only knew him for a few days and already you assume you were both good chums? You're stupid as rest of them..."
"Wait... they did what?" Elite frowned, as he glanced at Caboose and Fletcher.
"He's lying." Caboose snorted. "I mean, it's totally crazy. It ain't like Fletcher figured out Shade was the Western Shade mere moments after seeing him unmasked, or anything. Next, you'll be saying he told me, and we both knew right then and there!"
"Caboose..." Fletcher groaned.
"...Oops." Caboose cringed.
"So it is true." Elite's frown turned into a glare. "You two knew that Shade was a criminal, and yet you both chose to keep it a secret?"
"Sir, I know it looks bad, but it's not what it seems!" Fletcher spluttered. "We did know, but Shine insisted that we didn't tell anyone!"
"Yeah, he made us swear!" Caboose agreed, "And you don't go back on a swear!"
"That is not how being a Royal Guard works." Elite said coldly, "You are not to keep secrets for royals, especially from the other royalty and your fellow comrades. If you can't be bothered to tell others, how can one be trusted to lead an army?"
"But... it was an order, sir." Fletcher said weakly. "We had to obey our Prince. I had my misgivings, but Caboose and Shine truly believed Shade had some good in him. I just felt their judgment was sound..."
"...Well, I don't know what to say." Elite sighed. "I'm disappointed in you both. I really expected better." He turned and walked away, "...Much better..."
"Director, please, wait!" Fletcher called out, running after him.
"Okay... slight overreaction?" Caboose shrugged. "Am I right, folks?"
Caboose looked around, and noticed the crowd were all glaring at him.
"What?! As if you wouldn't keep a secret for royalty?" Caboose said indignantly.
"Not if it involved a criminal outlaw!" Golden Gavel spat.
"You're a disgrace to that armor!" Swan Song added.
"Kinda harsh..." Caboose pouted.
"Now, if nopony minds, we'll be taking the prodigal son to the dungeons." Call smirked. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Call and the Guards dragged Shade away. Shade looked over at Shine the whole time, who turned away, ashamed.
"The party's over." Shine said flatly. "Everypony leave, now."
After what had just happened, none of the guests were in a particularly jovial mood, so they easily complied.
"I knew there was something rotten about that one." Jet Set scowled.
"Just the thought of being so close to that vile thief makes me feel sick..." Upper Crust gagged.
Meanwhile outside, leaving with the rest of the guests, Caboose walked out.
"Well, that party was a bust." Caboose deadpanned.
"That's one way of putting it." Fletcher joined him from the other direction, greatly dejected.
"Hey, Cap, how did it go?" Caboose patted his shoulder, seeing his sullen expression.
"It didn't." Fletcher growled, on the verge of breaking down. "Elite retired to his quarters, and the guards said that he didn't want to speak to me..."
"Oh..." Caboose frowned, before trying to smile. "Well... I guess that's that. No point in crying over split milk. I'm sure we'll get it next time."
Slowly... Fletcher gave a rather fierce glare at Caboose.
"What?" Fletcher growled.
"Y'know, there'll be other promotion opportunities." Caboose smiled. "You just gotta keep on going. Tomorrow's another day, and all that. Just keep up the good work, maintain a positive attitude, and good luck will come your way."
Caboose was unaware of it, but after word he spoke made Fletcher grow agitated.
"And let's face it, it's not like there aren't other spots in the RDL that won't open in the future." Caboose grinned. "It's only a matter of time before another one opens up. And when that day comes, no matter how far away, I'm sure you'll-"
Caboose didn't see a hoof smacking him right in the face.
"Ah!" Caboose fell to the ground, clutching his face, as he glanced at Fletcher, who was fuming. "What was that for?!"
"You..." Fletcher shuddered with rage. "You pasta-munching nyttig! I just lost my chance at one of the best military positions in history, and all you can say is 'we'll get it next time'?"
"Dude, it's just a position." Caboose frowned, as he rose to his hooves. "It's nothing to get upset over."
"Nothing to get upset over?!" Fletcher snarled. "This job was my dream! To serve the RDL as one of it's leaders! All of that is now gone! All because of you!"
"Me?!" Caboose gaped. "What are you mad at me for? Call was the one that rat us out, not me!"
"If only I hadn't listen to you, Call wouldn't had anything to rat me out for!" Fletcher growled. "I should have arrested that damn desert rat the moment I recognized him!"
"Hey, you were doing the Prince a favor." Caboose frowned. "And it's not like he and I knew that Shade would go and do something like that... although him getting all 'unleash the rage' on Jet Set might had been a red flag..."
"That's just it!" Fletcher roared, as he growled at himself in defeat. "I did know! I should had followed protocols! Now, I shamed the Royal Guard, the Royal Defense Legion, my position as captain, and myself!"
"Hey, don't blame yourself." Caboose trying to sooth him. "It's nothing to go and try tp quit over again..."
"I don't blame myself." Fletcher growled, as he then glared coldly at Caboose. "I blame you..."
"Whoa, take it easy, Fletch." Caboose held up his hooves.
"Don't call me that!" Fletcher snarled, as he closed in on him. "I shouldn't had listened to you. It's like ever since I met you, I had been becoming too lenient in being a Royal Guard!"
"Hold on... what is that supposed to mean?" Caboose frowned.
"Isn't it obvious?" Fletcher grunted, "Your ridiculous, slapdash, happy-go-lucky ways have been gradually rubbing off on me. Slowly but surely, I've been growing sloppy, and lenient. And it's been costing me. For crying out loud, I almost got blown up because of you and some vendetta this crazy ex-cop had! Me being associated with you has brought me many misfortunes! And now, it cost me my one chance at becoming RDL general!"
"Now hold on a bucking minute!" Caboose glared. "How dare you blame me for all that?! I've been going out of my way trying to make sure you get this position! You think I've been taking it slow in those trials because I wanted to take a break? No! I was doing it all for you!"
"Here's a novel concept, why didn't you just drop out of the running?!" Fletcher yelled.
"Because I didn't think of that!" Caboose roared. "And to be honest, you were just a stuck up big-weiner son-of-a-cart horse before you met me! You think it was easy being friends with you?! For crying out loud, I could had just let you quit the Royal Guard that day... but I didn't!"
"Oh, and why is that?! So you could ruin my life right now?!" Fletcher glared.
"No, because I didn't want you to throw your life away over missing a damn shot on a manticore!" Caboose groaned. "I wanted you to not give up... but it seems like you're doing just that right now!"
"Don't you dare try to take the moral high ground with me!" Fletcher roared. "If I had trusted my instincts, and turned Shade in, none of this would have happened!"
"So you'd turn in Shine's own cousin, just for a promotion?" Caboose snarled. "That's real nice!"
"The law isn't nice." Fletcher growled.
"This is just like the time you caught that homeless pony stealing soup to feed his family." Caboose sneered. "You didn't give him a break either!"
"And you ruined that for me too, if I recall." Fletcher recalled. "Bending the rules to your favor. It was a miscarriage of justice, as was keeping Shade's crimes a secret!"
"But it was for the greater good!" Caboose retorted. "Sometimes the law isn't the way to do things!"
"You always were a poor excuse for a Guard." Fletcher spat. "I let myself forget that. But never again."
"And I forget what a total jerk you can be!" Caboose shot back. "So obsessed with the law that you don't care about ponies, and what's best for them!"
"That's rich, coming from somepony who took away what was best for me." Fletcher spat. "Your so-called friendship ruined everything for me. Well, no more. You are dead to me, Napoleon."
"...What?" Caboose gaped.
"You heard me." Fletcher growled. "We may still have to be colleagues, but that's as far as it goes, in my opinion."
"Well... fine!" Caboose snarled. "Good riddance to you, ya jerk!"
"My thoughts exactly." Fletcher growled.
Despite his anger, Caboose couldn't stop himself from asking a burning question.
"What's so important about this job, anyway?" Caboose demanded. "What's so special about it that you'd hate me this much for making you lose it?"
Fletcher didn't answer. Instead, he just walked away.
"Yeah, just walk away." Caboose growled. "Real mature..."
As soon as Fletcher was out of sight, Caboose bowed his head, his anger replaced by sorrow.
Back in the ballroom, Shine sat on the ballroom's steps, distraught over what transpired.
Celestia soon approached him, a rather unhappy frown on her face.
"Shine..." Celestia declared. "You knew Shade was Black's son, and you didn't tell me?"
"That's right." Shine nodded flatly. "I didn't."
"And he almost stole from the royals' vault." Celestia added. "Because you brought him here."
"Look, if you're going to say 'I told you so', then get on with it." Shine spat. "It can't possibly make me feel any worse than I already do!"
"I wasn't going to say that." Celestia frowned. "...What I was going to say is..." She then scowled. "How could you have been so careless?"
"Oh, here we go..." Shine scowled.
"Shine, what were you thinking was going to happen when you brought Shade here?" Celestia asked. "You knew he was a leader to a pack of thieves, and had no aversion to violence. Did you really think that he was going to magically become a gentlepony?"
"No!" Shine stomped his hoof. "I was hoping that I can show him that we nobles weren't so bad. I was hoping I could have him meet my family. Something you made so damn difficult."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Celestia glared.
"Oh, come on, Celestia." Shine growled, "We all know you were against him from day one."
"And you can imagine why." Celestia declared, "The moment I shook his hooves and looked into his eyes, I saw the same darkness within him that I saw in Black..."
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Shine scowled. "Even now, you won't stop disrespecting Black's memory!"
"Are you serious?" Celestia frowned. "I don't believe there is even a memory left to disrespect after what he has done! And here you are again, defending him, seeing in him only what you want to see. Are you really that blind?"
"And you wonder why I kept Shade's ancestry a secret!" Shine glared. "I knew the moment you found out, you would go out of your way to either lock him up or make him disappear!"
"Do you really think I am that petty?" Celestia gaped, appalled. "Whether he was Black's son or not, it doesn't change the fact that he was a criminal!"
"Why you think I brought him here?" Shine yelled. "I was trying to make him a better stallion! I thought if I could show him how good we were, he would leave that life behind, and that Black's legacy would be restored..." He felt a twinge of sorrow, "...that 'our' legacy would be restored."
"Shine..." Celestia frowned. "...There is no restoring what Black had done. I've seen what he had done. Others have seen what he had done. Even you has seen what he had done. And no amount of good intentions can change the fact that Black had darkness in his heart. That is all he will be remembered for. There's no changing that."
"Oh, so Shade must be punished for it? For being his son?" Shine asked.
"I don't know what gave you that impression." Celestia shook her head. "I do not hold Shade accountable for his father's actions... but his actions tonight makes it clear that he has chosen to follow his path." She shook her head, "The sins of the father does often becomes that of the son..."
"...Is that right?" Shine growled. "Does that also apply to nephews?"
"...What?" Celestia frowned.
"What, you think I haven't figured out why you've been so cagey lately?" Shine growled. "It's because I'm Black's nephew. Because I'm related to the stallion you hate so much. You've been passing that hate onto me for weeks now. And now, you're passing it on to Shade."
"That's... ridiculous!" Celestia retorted, her voice quivering.
"No, it's true." Shine seethed. "And you know what? I'm sick of it. You're supposed to be this fair and compassionate monarch, but right now, you're just being petty and spiteful to ponies who don't even deserve it."
"Like Shade?" Celestia sneered. "You really think he doesn't deserve my ire, after what he's done?"
"You know what, maybe you're right. Maybe I am seeing something that just isn't there." Shine growled sadly. "But you calling him a monster, saying he was pure evil... well, I'm not the only who seeing only what they want to see."
Celestia was taken aback by Shine's words. Deep down, she knew there was some truth to his words... but there was some things that isn't black and white.
"Shine, I-" She started.
"Just leave me alone!" Shine roared, walking away.
"Shine..." Celestia sighed.
Shine stormed out into the gardens, stewing in his own anger and regret.
"I don't know what's worse." Shine grumbled to himself. "Shade's betrayal, or Celestia's attitude... Either way, I have to live with it. I have to live with what I've done. With what they've done..."
"Hey." Gothic said tentatively, as he and Blueblood approached him.
"Hey, buddy, how are you doing?" Blueblood said in a soothing voice.
"Now what?" Shine growled. "Can't you see I want to be alone right now?"
"I'm afraid we can't do that, Shine." Blueblood declared.
"What, are you going to put me through the wringer too?" Shine spat. "Like Celestia? Telling me this is all my fault?"
"Technically, it is." Blueblood pointed out. "You are the one who brought a master thief into the castle..."
"That's. Not. Helping." Gothic glared at Blueblood.
"...Sorry." Blueblood cringed.
"Look Shine, you had good intentions." Gothic admitted. "But someponies just can't change what they are. I'm not saying Shade is as bad as his father was, that much I'll admit, but he's still a thief. Even you couldn't change that."
"I really thought I could." Shine sighed. "I thought I could reach him... show him a better way. Guess I was stupid for trying."
"Trying to show him a better life wasn't stupid." Blueblood declared. "Letting him go off alone. Now that was stupid." He added under his breath.
"You showed real compassion, Shine." Gothic told Shine. "It's just unfortunate that Shade took advantage of it."
"It's more than unfortunate." Shine growled. "It's a betrayal. It's like what Black did to my father all over again..."
"I have some idea of what that feels to be wronged by your family." Blueblood sighed. "It really does sting, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does..." Sleight nodded.
"Look, we all make mistakes, Shine." Gothic declared. "Sometimes, we place our trust in the wrong kind of pony. You trusted Shade, and he betrayed that trust. It's as simple as that, and you can't change it."
"But it's not too late to do something about it." Shine declared.
"Something... like what?" Blueblood asked.
Shine walked away, not answering the question.
"Whatever it is, I hope Shine knows what he's doing..." Gothic frowned.
"So do I." Blueblood nodded. "But given his current emotional state, that doesn't seem likely."
Shine made his way to the room Shade had been staying in. He gathered up all Shade's belongings, then donned his wrappings, poncho and hat.
"It fits... good." Shine frowned. "Tonight, the Western Shade will make his most miraculous escape ever." He then muttered. "Out of my life."
His disguise complete, Shine made his way to the dungeons, making sure to stay in the shadows and out of sight. As he neared his objective, two Guards passed by, forcing him to hide.
"After that big capture, there'll be no living with Duty!" One Guard frowned.
"To be fair, there was no living with him before." The other Guard noted. "Still, there's a good chance he'll get that position Everest has been offering, and be out of our manes once and for all..."
"We can only hope." The first Guard snorted.
Shine, sticking to the shadows, snatched the keys from one of the Guards. The Guard turned, but saw nothing.
In a cell, far away from where the other thieves were, Shade laid on his bed, feeling like the lowest of low.
"So this is how it's going to end..." Shade frowned. "Stuck in a prison cell... I let everypony down. My gang... my mom... Shine... all because I was too careless, and that my father was..." He let out a silent growl of despair.
Suddenly, he heard the door opening, and turned to see Shine in his poncho.
"What the... Shine?" Shade gaped. "What are you doing in my poncho?"
"I've come to say goodbye." Shine revealed himself.
"Why are you-?" Shade started.
"We don't have much time." Shine unlocked his cuffs. "While the Guards chase me, you get out of Canterlot."
"But I..." Shade spluttered, confused.
"Just go." Shine urged, covering his face again. Stopping only to throw Shade the keys, he rushed off.
"I don't deserve your help..." Shade sighed. "But I'll take it anyway."
In the barracks, Call was admiring himself in a mirror, the two Guards from before nearby. He still held Shade's locket in one hoof, like some trophy...
"Don't worry, boys." He said smugly, as he combed his mane. "After Elite gives me my due, I'll be sure to put in a good word for you, the little ponies who..."
Call trailed off as he saw what looked to be the Western Shade reflected in the mirror.
"It can't be..." He frowned, as the figure turned and fled.
Call rushed outside, followed by the two Guards.
"He was here, I know it..." He growled.
Shine, who was hanging from the ceiling, dropped down onto Call, snatching the locket out of his hoof before jumping to one side.
"The Western Shade!" The first Guard gaped.
"Impossible." The second gasped. "Nopony can escape that cell!"
"He's no stallion... he's a demon!" The first Guard trembled.
Shine turned and ran.
'Catch me if you can, boys...' He thought.
"I want him... dead or alive!" Call roared.
The Guard raced after Shine, losing him as they reached the streets.
"Surround the block!" Call ordered. "He's close. I can feel it..."
Shine was hiding around a corner. When he heard a Guard coming, he climbed onto the roof of a nearby building. Unfortunately, the Guard caught a glimpse of the poncho.
"There!" He pointed. "The Western Shade! On the roof!"
"Get up there!" Call ordered. "Now, now, now!"
'So much for slipping away unnoticed...' Shine thought.
As the Guards climbed up the building, Shine saw an awning below. He couldn't use his wings, but he could still get down.
"Found him!" The first Guard smirked.
Shine jumped off the roof.
"Lost him..." The second Guard sighed.
Shine bounced off the awning, and grabbed on to a banner hanging from another building, using it to climb up to the top. He looked around, believing he had successfully evaded his pursuers... only for Call to suddenly tackle him.
"Gotcha!" Call smirked, pinning Shine down. "Thought you could escape me, did you?"
Shine suddenly slugged him in the face with his free hoof, shoving Call back.
"Oh, so that's how you want to play it, huh?" Call sneered, as he then pulled out his spear. "I will make you rue the day you came from Black Knight's loins."
'We'll see about that...' Shine thought.
Call lunged at Shine, and the two struggled. Despite his youth, Shine had a hard time dealing with Call's experience and training.
"Is this all you have?" Call snarled, as he punched Shine in the stomach. "The great Western Shade? Not as tough as they give you credit for..."
Shine hit back with a haymaker, sending Call reeling.
"Now, I'm mad." Call growled.
Call charged at Shine. Shine dived out of the way, and Call's charge drove him to the edge of the roof.
"Ahh!" Call yelped, as he titled over the edge.
'No!' Shine thought.
Shine grabbed Call's hoof, and pulled him up. For a moment, Call stared at him in surprise... but only for a moment.
"Raaarrgh!" He clawed at Shine, tearing through the wrappings. "Think saving my life gets you a free pass? Well, you're wrong!"
Shine tried to evade him, but a hoof swing knocked off his hat.
"How you like that, you piece of sh-" Call suddenly stopped, as he recognized the white snout and blue eyes of the Prince he served, as he clutched the scratch on his face.
"You?!" Call gaped.
"Me." Shine said flatly, standing firm.
"What the... why are you..." Call tried to comprehend... only to adopt a cold and rather snide smirk. "Well, this is rather disappointing. I don't know what happened to your cousin, but I can only imagine the shame Celestia will feel when she learns that you helped the spawn of Black Knight escape..."
"I can't let you do that." Shine frowned.
"You're free to try and stop me, your highness." Call sneered. "We can add 'assaulting a Royal Guard' to your list of crimes..."
Suddenly, Shade slammed into Call, knocking him into the wall.
"Ow...." Call said weakly, as he slumped to the ground.
"Shade?" Shine frowned.
"Come on, we gotta move!" Shade helped Shine up.
Together, the cousins fled from Canterlot, making it out as far as past the borders, as they fled into the mountainside, where they eventually stopped, taking a breather.
"Did we we lose them?" Shine asked, exhausted.
"I think so." Shade nodded. "They won't be able to pick up our trail by daylight. By then, we'll be long gone."
"Yeah..." Shine murmured. "Oh here, I believe this belongs to you." He removed Shade's locket and held it out.
"...Thanks." Shade took the locket gladly. "And thanks for helping me back there. I'm surprised that you actually did this for me."
"You and me both." Shine said, not bothering to face him.
"Well... we better keep moving." Shade made to leave, "The sooner we get back to Prairieville, the better. Then we'll figure out what to do, right, Shine?" He didn't get a answer. "Shine?"
Shade glanced back at Shine, who was staring back at Canterlot with a forlorn gaze.
"Shine..." Shade frowned, as he hung his head. "I'm sorry about what I costed you. You gave up everything just so you could help me escape. But there is no going back now, you know that."
Shine didn't respond.
"Look, once we get back to Praireville, I will make things right with you." Shade assured him. "Maybe I can get you a job in town... or maybe you could join up with the gang. We could always use a pair of hooves like yours..."
"I'm not going with you." Shine declared suddenly.
"Say huh?" Shade gaped.
"I'm not going with you." Shine shook his head, as he gazed at Shade. "I can't. This is far as I go."
"What?!" Shade stammered. "Shine, you can't go back! The moment that bucker saw your face, your life in Canterlot was over. If you go back now, they'll... they'll..."
"I have to go back." Shine said firmly, "Celestia is there. So is my daughter. And so is my family."
"Seriously?" Shade scowled. "In case you haven't noticed, your beloved Princess hates our very bloodline."
"I don't care." Shine growled. "I am not doing what you did. I am not going to run away."
"What?!" Shade snarled, "I never ran away from anything in my life!"
"Seriously? Running away is all you did in life!" Shine snarled back, "You're a thief!"
"Hey, I already told you my reasons!" Shade growled. "What else could I have done? You'd rather I left my mother to die?!"
"I'd rather you had done the right thing." Shine said coldly, as he held up Shade's locket and chucked it to his hoof. "You should take this back."
Shade glanced at his locket... and then at Shine.
"Shine, you can't do this!" Shade urged.
"I won't walk out on Celestia and my family!" Shine declared fiercely.
"Shine, think about what it is you're doing!" Shade demanded.
"We may be blood-related, but I can't... and will not... live your life." Shine grunted.
"You do realize once Celestia finds out you helped me escape, she'll have you locked up for sure!" Shade glared.
"If there's a punishment, I'll take it." Shine announced. "But I won't leave my family..."
"Come on, use your head!" Shade urged. "You know you've only got one option." He tried to grab Shine's shoulder.
"No, I don't!" Shine shoved Shade back.
As Shade stumbled back, he dropped a bag. As it hit the ground, it spilled open. revealing gold and jewels from the vault.
"What the?!" Shine gaped, as he looked at the contents of the bag. "...Shade... is this... from the vault?"
Shade growled in defeat.
"I wasn't going to be coming back anyway." Shade huffed. "It wasn't as if I had something to lose..."
"...Yes, you did." Shine snarled, as he glared coldly at Shade, "You are unbelievable..."
"Shine-" Shade try to sooth him.
"I STUCK MY NECK OUT FOR YOU!" Shine roared. "From the day we met, I have been going out of my way to prove to my family that you weren't as bad as your father, to defend you, to prove to the world that you were a good stallion... but no..." He then kicked the bag over to him. "You've been using me all along!"
"Look, I admit it was like that at first but-" Shade murmured.
"But what? Was everything you said up to now a lie? The way you acted around Mist and Tempest, the way you acted around my family, the way you acted around the guards? Was any of that real? Or were they all a means to an end?" Shine snarled.
"No!" Shade barked back. "I didn't ask for this to happen! I didn't want to be friends with any of them! I didn't want to get close to anypony! I didn't want... anypony to trust me... and betray that trust..."
"Then why would you do this?!" Shine demanded, his eyes beading up with tears. "You could have had a family that loved and adored you, friends that looked up to you... why would you throw that all away, all for a bunch of rotten thieves?!"
"SHUT UP!" Shade screamed. "Don't you dare act like you have the right to criticize me for my actions!"
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Shine demanded.
"Oh come on, I'm not the only one who lied here!" Shade sneered. "You brought me to Canterlot under the impression that you wanted to get to 'know' me and 'bond' and all that crap. But no, you only brought me back so you would feel better about yourself!"
"What?!" Shine couldn't comprehend his words.
"I know what happened." Shade snarled. "Your father backstabbed my father! He sold out his only brother! Only for him to get killed by none other than you and Celestia! Because of your father, I never got to have him in my life, and you and Celestia deprived me of the chance of getting to know him! You think that by acting chummy and all nice-like with me will ever make up for taking my father away, then you're sorely mistaken!"
"...Shade..." Shine's anger dampened. "I'm truly sorry about that. It never crossed my mind that Black would have a son... maybe if I had known..."
"Oh, like that would have changed anything." Shade sneered. "You still would have let him die."
"I did no such thing!" Shine retorted. "The last thing I wanted was for him to die! But he wasn't going to stop! It was only till one of the Guards shot him in the heart that he did."
"It doesn't change the fact that he ended up in that position because of you, because of Celestia, and because of your father... his FAUST DAMN BROTHER!" Shade roared. "You didn't seem to think he was a good stallion at all..."
"You don't know what it was like back then." Shine insisted. "It wasn't as simple as you think. You heard the story. Black wasn't... right in the head."
"Funny, I seem to recall you saying he was 'a very driven stallion' who wanted to 'make Equestria a better place'?" Shade scowled. "Or was that a lie too?"
"It was... partly true." Shine said awkwardly. "Black did want to Equestria better, but he went about it in a way that only made sense to him."
"Oh, so the answer was to lock him up or have him killed?" Shade snarled, "Or is that how you royals deal with anypony who doesn't cotton on to your way of thinking?"
"I told you, I didn't have a choice." Shine growled. "Black was threatening the life of my daughter. As a father, I had to protect her!"
"What about Black?" Shade snorted. "He was my father! And now, he is gone, because of you and Celestia!"
"Leave Celestia out of this!" Shine yelled.
"Why?" Shade challenged. "She's the one who single-hoofedly ruined this entire family! She took my dad from me, and turned you into her whipped little stooge!"
"Shut your mouth!" Shine roared.
"Am I wrong?" Shade challenged. "She has been treating you like crap! No doubt because of Black Knight! Even now, after you practically broke his son out, you are coming back to her side, just like a pathetically devoted puppy. You make me sick!"
"I said shut up!" Shine yelled.
"Or what?" Shade challenged. "You are going to kill me? I would expect no less from the son of the one who betrayed my father. Like father, like son, am I right?"
"SHUT UP!" Shine roared, "You think I wanted to do what I did to Black? I didn't! Neither did my father! But it was either Equestria or him. And we both chose Equestria, because Black didn't! He didn't leave us a choice. He didn't leave me a choice. I didn't want to fight my own uncle, but I had to..."
"You had to." Shade spat. "For the greater good, right? You really are just like all the other royals. Justifying every lousy thing you do by pretending it's for the good of everypony..."
"Not everypony." Shine admitted. "But most ponies. What was I supposed to do. Put one pony above all others? That would have been wrong. That would have been acting like the kind of royalty you despise."
"I despise every kind of royalty." Shade sneered. "And you chose them over your own family. Makes me sick to think we're related."
"It's not so nice for me either." Shine retorted.
"Oh, how sad for you." Shade snorted. "Must be so awful, having another black sheep in your perfect little family to deal with..."
"...Well, I'm done..." Shine declared, as he then threw off his poncho and hat, and the satchel with his sword and muskets. "I want you to get out of here and never come back. I don't want to see you ever again..."
"What?" Shade asked, genuinely pained by the remark.
"You heard me." Shine snarled. "Get out of here. And don't ever let me see you around these parts again."
"So be it..." Shade growled, as he took his poncho and hat. "You will never have to hear from me ever again, your highness. I'll be going back to my real family now. The one that cares enough to tell me the truth, and accepts me for who I am. Faust knows I will need it once everypony knows who I am..."
Shine lowered his head in regret, just as pained by Shade's retort.
"Goodbye." Shade snorted, turning and heading out.
"...Goodbye." Shine said quietly.
Shine turned around, and sadly made his way back to Canterlot, painfully aware that he had in all likelihood lost another family member...